94. When morning prayer, celebrated in choir or in common, comes immediately before Mass, the whole celebration may begin either with the introductory verse and hymn of morning prayer, especially on weekdays, or with the entrance song, procession, and celebrant’s greeting, especially on Sundays and holydays; one of the introductory rites is thus omitted.

The psalmody of morning prayer follows as usual, up to, but excluding, the reading. After the psalmody the penitential rite is omitted and, as circumstances suggest, the Kyrie; the Gloria then follows, if required by the rubrics, and the celebrant says the opening prayer of the Mass. The liturgy of the word follows as usual.

The general intercessions are made in the place and form customary at Mass. But on weekdays, at Mass in the morning, the intercessions of morning prayer may replace the daily form of the general intercessions at Mass.

After the communion with its communion song the Canticle of Zechariah, Blessed be the Lord, with its antiphon from morning prayer, is sung. Then follow the prayer after communion and the rest as usual.

How often does this occur in religious communities? The dispersal of the elements of Lauds throughout the Mass is interesting, don’t you think? Does this work? Is it a distraction if not done often?

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Todd lives in the Pacific Northwest, serving a Catholic parish as a lay minister.

4 Responses to GILH 94: Combining Morning Prayer

Highly recommend the combination, particularly on Friday when the psalms are more penitential. Have done it with a variety of communities, including sister’s where I have been privileged to celebrate the Eucharist for the community. And with one community, at the request of the sisters, we did it three times a week.
Only limited experience in English, but here in our seminary (Nagoya, Japan), we combine Lauds with Mass, at least once a week, on a Friday or a Saturday, or if on either of those days we have an evening Eucharist, then we combine with Vespers. On those occasions we also sing as much as possible, including the Eucharistic Prayer. Its one of my favorite options for the liturgy.
Chanting rather than recitation of the psalms provides a very meditative way of opening the liturgy, post-communion the Benedictus or Magnificat, are as good a hymn of thanksgiving as anything avaiable. The dispersal of the elements is in no way a distraction, rather it deepens one’s experience of that part of the Eucharist, and of the texts chanted or recited.
Unsuspecting visitors always comment positively on the experience, even though it does result in a liturgy that is longer than usual. Overall it makes for a richer liturgical experience.

I prefer the Anglican Use Morning Prayer before Mass patterned after the Book of Common Prayer rite. Here the beautiful English office serves as a substitute for the Liturgy of the Faithful. It ends just before the offertory of the Mass. As soon as the Te Deum or Benedicite is finished it is followed by the solemn reading of the gospel. The priest removes his cope, dons the chasuable, and starts the offertory of the Mass.

A very beautiful and in some ways a quaint medieval rite. You think your’e in a medieval monastery or cathedral. Dignified, a great ars celebrandi, with lots of smells and bells.